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When we were first married, we wanted many of the same things everyone wants. We wanted good jobs, a good income, a new car, and an exciting lifestyle—with, of course, the funds to finance them. As time went by and we obtained these goals, we began to wish for a terrific home to own. Within eight years of marriage, we had all this. Life was good.
But then what? There we were, stuffing our lives full of stuff, and still we were restless. So we traveled. We camped. We took night classes. We developed hobbies like photography and woodworking. We regularly read, played chess, and belonged to a bridge club.
Still we couldn’t shake the emptiness. As hard as we tried, and as much money as we earned and spent, and as many things as we stockpiled and owned, we still searched for something more.
But nothing lasted and nothing satisfied...and we weren’t even 30 years old.
Well, praise God for His intervention in our lives. By His grace we gladly stepped into a new life, a life where there are never any voids—a life filled with Jesus Christ and goals centered around eternity and eternal values.
It wasn’t long before Jim resigned from his job to go back to school to prepare for ministry. We sold our home and most of the furniture and moved into a very small and much older home. Later in life our financial position did stabilize, but our perspective on our possessions was permanently altered.
Because of the temporary nature of our possessions, Jesus tells us exactly where we should place our focus.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also(Matthew 6:20-21).
Where is your focus? Where is your “treasure”? Put another way, what occupies your thoughts and time? The goal is to make sure your first loyalties—your priority heart commitments—are on the right things, the things that cannot fade away, the things that can never be stolen, the things that cannot wear out (and are never out of fashion!). In short, the things that last—the things that are eternal.
RESPOND
Dear Lord, may we look at our treasures with clear eyes that can discern the temporary from the eternal. May we pursue those treasures that will last forever! Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES 
A Couple After God’s Own Heart—Enrich your marriage and learn the essentials for enjoying life together by developing better ways to communicate. This book for couples will help you draw upon God for unity and strength.
REFLECT
Where is your focus? Where is your “treasure”? What occupies your thoughts and time?
REMEMBER
By God’s grace we can live a life filled with Jesus Christ and have goals centered around eternity and eternal values.
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
One of my favorite words in the English language is “bittersweet.” It’s sort of like the well-known announcement, “I’ve got good news and bad news. Which do you want first?” This picturesque term always reminds me that many occurrences in life fall simultaneously into the glad/sad category, bringing forth both emotions at once.